19-year-old shoots girlfriend’s father, charged with aggravated assault, child cruelty

The Newton County Sheriff’s Office said a 19-year-old was taken into custody on Tuesday after shooting his girlfriend’s father.

The shooting happened around 6 p.m. on Tuesday night.

NCSO deputies went to a home on White Birch Road in Covington to respond to a reported domestic-related aggravated assault.

The preliminary investigation by Newton County deputies determined that Hunter King shot his girlfriend’s father, Richard Powell, 47.

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Deputies said Powell was injured but remained alert and refused medical treatment.

King was taken into custody on charges of aggravated assault, two counts of third-degree cruelty to children and possessing a firearm during commission of a crime.

Details on why there were child cruelty charges were not immediately available. The circumstances of what happened leading up to the altercation were not shared.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Investigator Collins by email at [email protected] or by submitting a tip by phone at 678-625-1585.

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